Hune 2025

This month’s pānui celebrates new partnerships, powerful kaupapa like Te Tūātea, community events, and upcoming opportunities to connect, while inviting whānau feedback to shape the future of local hauora services.

“Kia tū tika ai te whare tapu o Ngāpuhi”

Ka Tika te Kōrero

Tēnā koutou katoa,

This will be a monthly pānui to share with you what we do to serve Ngāpuhi whānau and the wider community within the boundaries of Te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi and beyond.

You will find the following in this pānui:

  • General Updates
  • Team updates
  • Service updates
  • Upcoming kaupapa

We would love to receive your feedback on the future of local hauora services. Do you have any suggestions on how Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi can work alongside other services to better provide for the community?

Whānau voice is important to us! Do you have any feedback you can share? Please make sure to scroll down to the end, subscribe to this pānui, share your whakaaro, and/or submit feedback.

We look forward to staying connected with you.

Whakanuia Puanga! We acknowledge our past, celebrate the present and look forward to a bright and prosperous future. Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori ❤️


Team Updates

Te Tūātea | He moana ora, he tangata ora 🌊

Tūātea is the outer line of breaking waves, the place where transformation begins. That’s exactly what this kaupapa stands for: our tāne taking their first brave steps into healing, identity, and reconnection.

Through the Te Tūātea Programme, supported by Te Rau Ora, our tāne have immersed themselves in a powerful journey of wānanga, whakapapa, and purpose. More than a qualification, this is healing in action, a pathway out of addiction and disconnection, and a return to te taiao, tikanga, and their own mana!

Delivered by Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi with Dive! Tutukaka and Paihia Dive, this kaupapa is already creating ripples across Te Tai Tokerau — and it’s just the beginning.

This kaupapa uses a tuakana-teina model and was created to deter rangatahi and tāne Māori from drugs and alcohol, by restoring their connection to te taiao, hapū, and their own sense of mana and identity. Over weeks of wānanga, they’ve gained dive skills, learned to gather kaimoana with tikanga, and stepped into their role as kaitiaki and future leaders.

Guided by Matua Ray and a dedicated team, and delivered by Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi with Dive! Tutukaka and Paihia Dive, Te Tūātea is already creating ripples across Te Tai Tokerau. Ngā mihi nui to our funders, facilitators and supporters. Your support is helping tāne reclaim their mana, protect their hauora, and lead with purpose for future generations.

🔗 Interested in joining Te Tūātea?
Head to our Facebook page for eligibility details and message us to register your interest!

🤝 Te Mahurehure Marae x Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi

On 31 March 2025, Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi and Te Mahurehure Marae formalised a significant partnership, marking a powerful shift in how we support Ngāpuhi tamariki and whānau within the Oranga Tamariki system.

This partnership enables Ngāpuhi to take the lead in the care of our own, through approaches grounded in whakapapa, tikanga, and mana motuhake.

❤️ Reconnecting tamariki to iwi, hapū, marae and whānau
❤️ Providing whānau-centred, culturally grounded support
❤️ Enhancing the social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing of our tamariki and their whānau

For a long time, our team in Tāmaki Makaurau have worked tirelessly, committed, but isolated. This partnership changes that. Through whakapapa and manaakitanga, Te Mahurehure Marae now offers us a true base — a place to stand, work, and care together.

This is more than just office space. This is belonging.

With over 40% of our iwi living in urban areas like Auckland, we know the importance of delivering kaupapa that reflect the realities of urban Ngāpuhi. This partnership is a step forward in building whānau-led, culturally anchored solutions.

We remain committed to a future where Ngāpuhi tamariki thrive, uplifted by culture, connected to whakapapa, and surrounded by aroha.

Community Updates

A Hikoi of Love and Commitment

Our hapori came together in a powerful and emotional hikoi to honour the life of our mokopuna, Catalya Remana Tangimetua Pepene, and all the tamariki lost to us in recent weeks. The kaupapa, He tapu te mokopuna, was a reminder of the sacredness of our pēpi and the strength of unity.

Read more here!

Puanga 2025 ⭐️ He rā whakahirahira!

What a day! Puanga 2025 was a celebration filled with laughter, kai, music and connection. Brought to life by Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, Te Whare Āwhina o Ngāti Tautahi, and THOON, it reminded us that mā te kotahitanga e whai hua ai – through unity, we thrive.

Read more here

Service Updates

🗣️ Kapa Kōrero

Our very first Kapa Kōrero was a morning full of laughter, connection, and creativity. Ngā mihi to everyone who joined us, your presence made it truly special!

Held at the Kaikohe Bowling Club, the space came alive with stories, clay face-making, cuppas, and whakawhanaungatanga. Whether catching up with old friends or meeting someone new, everyone brought their own magic, and Ruby brought the vibe!

Kapa Kōrero is part of our Tangata Whaikaha service, designed especially for kaumātua and adults living with disability, but everyone is welcome. It’s a safe, relaxed space to connect, get creative, and enjoy each other’s company.

If this sounds like something for you or someone you care about, we'd love to see you this Friday.

📌 Our Team Out in the Community!

Our Kaiārahi, Te Arohanoa, and co-lead Clarone have been out and about in the community, attending the He Poutama Taitamariki Expo in Kerikeri.

They shared the kaupapa of our EPS (Education, Pathways, and Support) programme and were joined by two awesome rangatahi from the last cohort, who spoke powerfully about their experiences and growth through the programme.

It was a great opportunity to connect with others, showcase the impact of EPS, and inspire the next wave of taitamariki to step into their future with confidence.

🗓 Upcoming Kaupapa

We're looking forward to a great month ahead! We have a few workshops and events coming up, so come and see the team! Here's a breakdown of what to expect in June, and be sure to check out our Facebook page for more details.

July Event dates:

Whaikaha | Mondays & Fridays | 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Waewae Express | Kaikohe

Kapa Kōrero | Every Friday | 9:30 AM – 12 PM | Kaikohe Bowling Club

Toi Awhimā | Wednesday 16th of July | Whangārei | 10 AM - 1 PM | 5 Walton Street

If you would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team:

📞 Phone: 0800 484 006

📧 Email: referrals@thoon.org.nz

📍 Address: 113 Broadway, Kaikohe


Stay tuned for more updates! 😊

Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi: Out & About


Check out these snaps of our team! Do you have any epic photos with our team? Send them through to us on our Facebook page facebook.com/TeHauOraONgapuhi and you could feature in our pānui!

Ana Tairua our Housing Continuum Navigator at the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference.

two men sitting at a table looking at a cell phone

Our team in Kirikiroa Hamilton at the Āpiti Hono Tātai Hono Ngāpuhi Roadshow.

THOON van spotted in Waitangi enjoying the beautiful scenery!

Some of our awesome Cancer Care team! From left to right: Natasha, Robyn and Mary!

Our team setting up at Waitangi this year!

Our team at our Strategic Planning day!

Your feedback is important to us!

Thank you for taking the time to read our pānui, we hope we can share more timely updates. Me pehea ōu whakaaro? Click on the kanohi below to let us know.

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